Organizer Q&A

Getting the lowdown on Riverside Festival with Stuart McMillan

Oct 20, 2021

4 min read

Welcome to Festival Insider's Organizer Q&A series. Here, we have intimate conversations with some of the festival market's most exciting and influential innovators.

Regulars of the European festival circuit would have 100% heard of Riverside Festival. An annual celebration of electronic music set in the iconic grounds of the Riverside Museum, Glasgow. Featuring an array of international and local talent alike, covering multiple genres, and catering to all ages. We had the delight of catching up with Stuart McMillan (Slam), one of the organizers.

What is your name and what is the name of your festival?

Hi, my name is Stuart McMillan, I'm one half of Slam and I'm one of the organizers of Riverside Festival in Glasgow.

When did the festival start and what inspired it?

The festival started in 2013, and we've been inspired mainly by the location. You know, at that point there was a growing trend of city festivals, you know, urban festivals, bringing the festival away from the countryside and back into the city centre.

The location of the Riverside Museum is such a fantastic location that, you know, that was being on the River Clyde had an integral part of Glasgow's history. We felt that was, you know, probably the best place to do a festival you know, involving, you know, in Glasgow.

Riverside Festival Crowd OutsideRiverside Festival Crowd Outside

When and where does it happen?

The festival happens in the grounds of the Riverside Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid - it's a wonderful-looking structure. In fact, we use all the design of the museum in all of our marketing. The way that this is such a distinctive piece of architecture, that whether it's spiky, you know, roof arrangement. It's just such a striking building and such a great view of Glasgow, along the Quaid, and it has the historic element to it as well because it has the toll ship on the other side as well.

The festival happens normally in May, due to this year, we have had to move it to September, due to the pandemic obviously.

Riverside Festival LocationRiverside Festival Location

What kind of musical artists play at your festival?

The main focus of the festival is electronic artists and that can range from experimental to hard techno to more house. We try and keep an ear to the ground and bring along emerging artists, something new and something fresh. We try to be as diverse as possible with the lineup we include a lot of local artists, it's Glasgow's festival, Glasgow's celebration of electronic music, so we try and incorporate that into the festival. And we try and book as many different genres spread over now three days.

Who was the first act you ever booked?

The first acts we booked were Jamie XX, and Underground Resistance, and that was in 2013. So it's been running now for eight years, and yeah, it's every year is a highlight for us.

Riverside Festival ArtistRiverside Festival Artist

What’s the most memorable set or sets for you?

I mean, we've had everybody play there. Jeff Mills, some of the old school guys like Jeff Mills and Laurent Garnier they've been some of the most memorable sets that we've had. We also as artists as well, we play there every year and I remember one particular highlight being the lights going down and Jeff Mills doing his thing was incredible, Laurent Garnier doing his thing was incredible. Every year is, has always Rodhad, a guy from Berlin in Germany doing an amazing set there, and the crowd is such an amazing crowd that it's hard not to find highlights in most of the sets that get played.

Who is the target audience for your festival?

Our target audience is young but it's very inclusive. We're not trying to say these are the only people that we want, you know, young, old, you know, it doesn't matter. You know, what, what matters with Riverside is that people come along with the right attitude.

Riverside Festival CrowdRiverside Festival Crowd

What is unique about your festival? What sets it apart?

I think what's unique about Riverside is the location and the passion that we try to enter the festival and obviously the use of the locations. As I mentioned before, it's really unique. Yeah, it's just I think it's unique because it's the venue, and where it's held is a unique place and I think the people of Glasgow make it memorable every year.

Riverside Festival ArtistRiverside Festival Artist

What are some of the challenges you've faced in organizing your festival?

Obviously, Glasgow, the weather is a challenge - you know running an outdoor festival, in a country in Scotland where we can be forced to break with rain or wind or whatever. These are been some of the challenges that we're faced with today apart from logistical challenges, like artists arriving on time and stuff like that, I'd say I mean, the main challenge is the weather.

I mean, we've been really lucky, we've been really lucky we've not had too much rain. I think mainly because we decided to do it in May, and May is historically nice weather in Scotland.

More fromOrganizer Q&A

Explore series
Imagine Music FestivalImagine Music Festival

Organizer Q&A

The Creative Partnership of Imagine Music Festival Founders Glenn & Maddy Goodhand

6 min read

Papaya Club @ Sonus FestivalPapaya Club @ Sonus Festival

Organizer Q&A

Robin Ebinger of Sonus and Time Warp on What it Takes to Last in the Festival Industry

8 min read

Elements 2021Elements 2021

Organizer Q&A

Founders Say Elements Music & Arts Festival 2022 is the Pinnacle of a Decade Long Journey

6 min read

Bernd Breiter PressBernd Breiter Press

Organizer Q&A

An In-Depth Chat with Bernd Breiter of Big City Beats WORLD CLUB DOME

11 min read

Caio TabordaCaio Taborda

Organizer Q&A

Catching up with Caio Taborda of Xama Festival, Brazil

4 min read

John Minty - Splore FestivalJohn Minty - Splore Festival

Organizer Q&A

A Rundown on Splore Music & Arts Festival with John Minty

3 min read

Theodora Karakassi Press ShotTheodora Karakassi Press Shot

Organizer Q&A

We sat down with Theodora Karakassi of Plisskën Festival

6 min read

Albert SalinasAlbert Salinas

Organizer Q&A

Catching up with Albert Salinas of Lapsus Festival

5 min read

Evan Bailey - Ubbi Dubbi Press PictureEvan Bailey - Ubbi Dubbi Press Picture

Organizer Q&A

A Chat with Evan Bailey of Ubbi Dubbi Festival

10 min read

Nicolas CournoyerNicolas Cournoyer

Organizer Q&A

Catching up with Nicolas Cournoyer of Piknic Électronik

10 min read

Tommy Verdun (FuturFestival)Tommy Verdun (FuturFestival)

Organizer Q&A

A Chat With Tommy Verdun From FuturFestival

5 min read

Robin Brühlmann (Street Parade)Robin Brühlmann (Street Parade)

Organizer Q&A

Robin Brühlmann (Street Parade, Zurich)

3 min read

Florian Bourdot (Bordeaux Open Air)Florian Bourdot (Bordeaux Open Air)

Organizer Q&A

Florian Bourdot (Bordeaux Open Air)

7 min read

Nick Castleman (Labyrinth)Nick Castleman (Labyrinth)

Organizer Q&A

Nick Castleman (Labyrinth Open Air)

15 min read

Tamara Przystasz (Fest Festival)Tamara Przystasz (Fest Festival)

Organizer Q&A

Tamara Przystasz (Fest Festival)

7 min read

Rob Da BankRob Da Bank

Organizer Q&A

Rob Da Bank (Camp Bestival)

6 min read

Anastasios DiolatzisAnastasios Diolatzis

Organizer Q&A

Anastasios Diolatzis (reworks)

6 min read

Katrin & Jon Olaffson (Secret Solstice) Press ShotKatrin & Jon Olaffson (Secret Solstice) Press Shot

Organizer Q&A

Katrín Ólafsson and Jón Bjarni Steinsson (Secret Solstice Festival)

6 min read

Freddie McGreggor (One Out)Freddie McGreggor (One Out)

Organizer Q&A

Freddie McGreggor (One Out Festival)

3 min read

Lachie Gordon of Noisily FestivalLachie Gordon of Noisily Festival

Organizer Q&A

Lachie Gordon (Noisily Festival)

3 min read

Junction2Junction2

Organizer Q&A

Feeling So Real – How Junction2 Organizers Create Community In The Digital Space

11 min read

Gustavo PereiraGustavo Pereira

Organizer Q&A

Gustavo Pereira (Neopop Festival)

11 min read

Julian Prince of SXM FestivalJulian Prince of SXM Festival

Organizer Q&A

Julian Prince (SXM Festival)

5 min read

Timothy Monkiewicz (Elements Music & Art Festival)Timothy Monkiewicz (Elements Music & Art Festival)

Organizer Q&A

Timothy Monkiewicz (Elements Music & Art Festival)

7 min read